Leslie and Finna
Blackcomb Ski Patrol; Whistler, BC
Finna, formerly named Tatem, is from the Vancouver Animal Shelter in Vancouver, BC. She had formerly been abandoned by her original owner and the shelter did their best to find her a home. She has been through a few previous foster families almost waiting for the opportunity to be put to work. It is obvious that this dog just wasn't meant to be a pet alone. Finna was headed in the wrong direction for what she needed out of a handler. She is too smart for her own good which was getting her into trouble and therefore sent back. She has high drive and requires a lot of exercise and needed space to expend her energy. She was almost unmanageable when I decided to foster her but after having her assessed by the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association, I chose to work with her and it has been working out ever since!
Due to my experiences with food in the past, my first idea was to get Finna on the raw food diet. It tends to help any dog mellow out because they are getting everything that they need in a diet provided it is done correctly. She lets me know whenever it is meal time because she knows she's getting the goods. This is how we have become involved with Fresh Start. I feed her raw food with salmon oil and alfalfa and kelp and her coat is beautiful and we have visited the vet once. She is turning out to be a great search dog as my previous dog CJ was. 
Leslie Garbutt, CJ & Finna
The Story of CJ
This story is about a miracle that saved a dog's life. 
CJ is a female German Shepherd that I was training for 2 years to use in avalanche rescue work. A beautiful dog that is loyal and had what it took to be a working dog. Unfortunately CJ and I had quite a complex 2 years together due to her health. I fed her kibble and did everything an ordinary pet owner would do. It all started at 8 months.
CJ began limping by the age of 8 months which we guessed was growing pains. She had been x-rayed at 10 months as required with a pure bred. Apparently nothing in the x-ray that the present veterinarian could see. The limp thankfully went away but one of her eyes started to go foggy. Into the vet and found that she had an ulcer; a scratch or something that had irritated her eye. We were given ointment and it eventually went away. 
At the age of about 19 months CJ had an allergic reaction in her kennel at the top of the mountain where we station our dogs for work. I have included a photo of what she looked like. This was from being in a kennel that she had already been in before so we could not pin point the cause. We tested her breathing, let her run around, everything seemed normal other than it was obvious that she was uncomfortable because her face had blown up and she kept rubbing her face on me. I felt terrible because I didn't know what to do for her. I took her to the vet and no one could figure out what happened. It was suggested that she could have been allergic to the plastic from the kennel but it can't be known for sure. This is when it really started to get serious.
Every cut or abrasion would swell. CJ developed warts on her mouth, developed mange that was impossible to get rid of, her coat was not the best, she went into two rare heats rather than one, she bled like crazy, developed a bacterial infection and everything you can think of that brought us to the vet every three weeks. Finally I brought her in to be spayed and she reacted to the operation as well as the area stitched had swelled incredibly. We tried supplements for her diet and endless drugs to get her system back together. To top all of this off, her metabolism was so rapid that I had to feed her twice as much as any other dog to keep any weight on her.
I had been told that I needed to see a homeopathic veterinarian. I had a feeling about this before but for some reason did not want to spend the money. It was the best thing I could have done! The end diagnosis was that all of these symptoms were signs of an immune deficiency and CJ needed the basics. 

Dr. Julie Ann Lee at Adored Beast Veterinary Clinic recommended the raw food diet. 12 days and I couldn't believe the difference. Raw food + salmon oil + alfalfa and kelp. It was a miracle. I did not have to take her to the vet for at least a year after I changed her diet. The other handlers could not believe the difference in her coat and her behaviour. It was more expensive but it cost me less to feed her this diet than to take her to the vet. I donšt know where CJ would be if we hadn't of discovered this diet. I'm always hesitant with new things, but I saw this first hand and it was truly amazing. 
Just over a year later CJ started limping. Unfortunately it was elbow displacia that the first veterinarian did not see in the initial exrays at 8 months. After having them reviewed by a specialist, it was in the xray, the vet missed it. To top that off they were rude, skeptical of the raw food diet and sent me off without any care telling me my dogšs career was over. They handed me a piece of paper telling me of the condition, vaccinated my dog without telling me what the vaccination was before doing it and let me sit and cry without a full explanation in the waiting room. The most pathetic service I have ever had. 
From that day on I only recommend the homeopathic veterinarians and the raw food diet. I lived it myself and now know who really cares.
Chris and Koda
My name is Chris Voelker. I am a full-time firefighter, part-time ski patroller, and partner to my avalanche rescue puppy, Koda. Koda was born in June 2003 under the caring and watchful eye of her breeder in Aldergrove, BC. Being of true working dog lineage, Koda's German Shepherd bloodlines produced many RCMP Police Service Dogs, Avalanche and Wilderness Search and Rescue Dogs, and top-ranking Schutzhund Sport Dogs. As a true trailblazer in the raw food effort, Koda's breeder had been weaning his litters onto a raw diet for many years before the industry had progressed. His explanation as to why he began and continues to use a raw food based regime was that the dogs simply do better with it.
I wish I could give you a story of triumph over the ills of kibble food, but I cannot. I chose a raw diet for Koda because good-quality food helps the body and mind perform to the best of its ability. I wanted to cut problems out before they occured - rather than try to fix them after the fact. In order for Koda and I to enjoy each other's efforts for as long as possible, she deserves the best that I can offer her. Fresh Start's raw food has been working wonders in providing the nutrition - which is the foundation of a dog's health - for Koda's growth, joint development, overall health, and energy levels.
While it could be argued that Koda would be doing just as well as she is now if she was on kibble diet, the links in the human world between improper diet and numerous diseases such as cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease made the decision an easy one: Kibble is a risk I'm not willing to take.
After being assessed by the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association at five months of age, Koda and I were given the approval to begin our formal avalanche profile training.
She's becoming a great search partner and her stable nerves and clear head allow her to easily deal with the stresses of mountain rescue life such as helicopter, skidoo and ski lift travel as well as early morning explosive avalanche control work. In developing such a close bond with Koda, I want to 'stack the deck' as best as I can when it comes to her well-being. By feeding her Fresh Start's raw food diet, I know that I'm doing the best I can to strengthen her immune system, improve her resistance to disease, and maximize her quality of life.

Koda would like to thank Allan Merk, Melisa Nickel & Anne Whatcott from Fresh Start for providing the body fuel that helps her meet her optimal nutritional needs.

Chris Voelker and Koda
Blackcomb Ski Patrol
Whistler, BC
Brian and Burleigh
Brian Finestone is employed year-round as the Public Safety Supervisor for Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. He has dedicated over ten years to providing rescue services in the mountains, working in Canada and abroad as a professional ski patroller, avalanche forecaster and avalanche rescue dog handler.
Inspired by an avalanche dog team he met while working as a lift operator in 1992, Brian focused on the hard skills required to work in the field of mountain rescue, eventually becoming a senior avalanche rescue dog handler and president of the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association.

Brian's current partner Burleigh is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Burleigh is one of the youngest dogs in the program but is showing strong character and a keen willingness to learn the job. Burleigh comes from a breeder dedicated to producing quality, raw-fed, holistic Tollers for homes in which each puppy can meaningfully contribute to the world around them.

Watch for progress reports on Burleigh's training and achievements.

Emerald the Guide Dog
(by Joan Billesberger)
Emerald, my lovable golden retriever, was born January 1997 in Ottawa, Ontario. She began her formal guide dog training at the age of thirteen months at the training center in Manotick, Ontario for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.
In March of 1998 she was flown to Vancouver where she completed her guide dog training and in July of that same year her most exciting part of the training began.
She was teamed up with Joan Billesberger of North Vancouver and they spent three weeks working together and getting to know one another. Emerald is my third guide dog.
I was partially sighted since birth; then lost the rest of my sight in 1987. That is when I decided that a guide dog was a necessity in my life.  		 
I was paired up with my first guide dog Coco-a chocolate-Labrador retriever. Unfortunately, Coco developed cancer and passed away just before her second birthday after only working seven months with me.
Then Babs-a golden retriever-filled that empty void in my life. Babs and I had a wonderful working relationship that lasted almost ten years. Normally a guide dog works an average of eight years.
Emerald has now picked up where Babs' left off. We are well-known around the neighbourhood; and are often seen walking to the bus stop, corner store, or just out for a leisurely walk. Emerald has been in excellent health until September of 2001 when she developed a large hotspot near the bass of her tail. She was treated with antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory. 
All seemed to be fine 'til March of this year when she became sick to her stomach after swallowing a piece of plastic. Again a trip to the vet and more of the same medication.
Then two weeks later a rash appeared near her tail again. This time I decided to try a different route. A good friend took us to a holistic vet. After an extensive examination a lot of questions about Emerald's overall behavior, his first suggestion was changing her diet from dry kibble to a raw diet. 
After doing some research and talking to various friends who have made the switch to a raw diet for their beloved animal I decided to take the plunge.
With the guidance from Anne Whatcott of Fresh Start Raw Food for Dogs, Emerald was introduced to a small portion of tripe mixed with her regular food.
It took Emerald two weeks to make the transition, which was very smooth with
no difficulties.
What a difference raw food can make! The first thing I noticed was her tail was fluffier only after a few days. Since I groom Emerald each day it was easy for me to notice the changes in her already curly coat. It became thicker, silkier, and not as coarse to the touch. Since I'm not able to see any visual changes, a colleague at work said, "Emerald seems to be positively glowing. 
Her dog breath and wet coat are not as noticeable.
Emerald has always been food orientated and ready to eat at any time. But now, she can hardly wait for her mealtimes. She will stand in the kitchen and lick her chops in anticipation for that raw food and veggies. To enhance her diet, I add some garlic, oil, and kelp or some Super Blue Green Algae.
Every couple of weeks Emerald enjoys the pleasure of a fresh turkey neck or a raw beef rib; which was never part of her previous diet. With all the positive changes I've made to Emerald's life, I hope that she will be able to work for ten years as her predecessor did.